Google agreed to destroy browsing data to settle the consumer privacy lawsuit, claiming they secretly tracked the browsing data of the users without their knowledge.
The 2020 filed case accused the Alphabet Inc. unit of secretly collecting the data of users who used the incognito mode of Google Chrome, which allowed them to browse privately. Although that feature allows users to disable data gathering when using the Chrome browser, the lawsuit claims that other Google products that websites utilize, like advertising technology, nevertheless collect users’ data. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, must approve the settlement conditions that were submitted to the federal court on Monday. Plaintiffs’ attorneys estimated the agreement’s worth at more than $5 billion and as much as $7.8 billion. Users may individually sue the company, as Google is not ready to pay the amount.
Google’s Response To The Privacy Lawsuit
The December settlement agreement of Google disclosed in a federal court filing in San Francisco on Monday that they will destroy billions of data records that represent the personal search results of individuals. Additionally, Google has announced that they have revised their disclosures in several ways to make their work more transparent to their users. This revised version will provide a clearer picture of how the user data is collected and what activities will be visible on the website when the users use incognito mode. Additionally, they agreed to allow incognito mode users to block third-party cookies for the next 5 years.
Google spokesperson Joe Castaneda said in his recent statement that they are pleased to settle the lawsuit as they believed it was meritless. He confirmed that they never associated data with the users when they were in incognito mode. He stated that they were happy to delete the old technical data, which he reassured was never associated with any individual or used for personalization of any form.
The plaintiffs’ lawyers said that about 50 people have already filed complaints individually against Google, as no damage payments were included in their settlements. The plaintiffs’ team, led by attorney David Boies, hailed the deal as “groundbreaking” and a “historic step” in forcing large digital corporations to disclose how they gather and utilize user data for their customers. Since Google’s rich advertising business depends on the efficacy of its search engine, the company’s promise to delete user information retroactively is a big concession. It also occurs when Google faces numerous domestic and international regulatory hurdles due to growing worries about the tech giants’ usage of the enormous amounts of consumer data they gather.
According to Stephanie Liu, a senior analyst at Forrester, businesses that gather and distribute customer data inadvertently have been the target of several legal actions, complaints, and regulatory actions. He added that the increase in privacy-oriented lawsuits and complaints shows increased consumer concerns about their privacy and their ability to take action against it.
Attorneys from the law firms Boies Schiller Flexner and Morgan & Morgan, representing consumers in the complaint, claim that the settlement offers “substantial relief” for the plaintiffs. A trial that was due for February—a year that is anticipated to be among Google’s busiest in the legal system—was also postponed by the deal. A comparable lawsuit from Texas and other states contesting the company’s ad tech practices is scheduled for March 2025. A jury trial in a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general accusing the company of breaking antitrust laws by illegally monopolizing digital advertising is set for September.
Read more: SSA To Eliminate Food Assistance Barrier For Certain Benefit Access
Other Legal Threats On Google
In the regulatory space, Google is still facing legal challenges that may have a much greater effect on its company, depending on how they turn out. A federal judge will hear closing arguments in the case on May 1 before rendering a decision that is expected in the fall, following the U.S. Justice Department’s trial last fall, in which it detailed its accusations that the company is abusing the dominance of its search engine to thwart competition and innovation.
Additionally, Google may have to adjust its Android-powered smartphone app store, which could reduce commission income after a federal jury found the corporation operating an illegal monopoly last year. In late May, there will be a hearing to discuss potential changes Google would need to make to its Play Store.